I got this email initially from "Zoho Modeling Agency" for "We are interested in your profile picture on Facebook for Sony BillBoard advert". They wanted me to send my Facebook profile picture to [email protected] because is one of their "favorite photos". The email reads as follows:

Hi, We appreciate your quick response and the model contract is not a joke at all and is a once in a life opportunity. Your image has been accepted by the agency, "ZOHO MODEL AGENCY." As one of the favorite photos Sony billboard for South Africa Oliver Tambo International Airport. We do not discriminate sizes or shapes of individual models, we recognize beautiful images and used for advertising.The Financial will send the payment to you by mail(USPS).(the first payment is always in the range from $100,999.00 to$300,999.00,(which will be used as your registration, and the rest will be used for molding your photo once your registration is received, you will receive a contract called the M-20form by email.)Once you are fully registered with the company your full payment of the advert will be transfer to your account in the total sum of $950,500.00.

The legal documentation of the agreement will be sent to you once you get back to us with the following required information for your "Sign up fee" with the agent, and the application process and the approval of your full payment will cost you the sum of $195 Kindly get back to me with the following information as soon as possible for registration and the approval of your full payment.

You will have to register with the company account officer who will approve your payment and it will cost you the sum of $195 for your application process and the documentation of your registration once the agent get the fees he will post all the document to you via email as soon as possible which you will sign and send back to the office he will then contact you on the transfer process of your full payment of the sum of $950,500.00 which will be transfer to your personal account once the agent get the signed document you will received from the "ZOHO MODEL AGENCY .officer.

*Please note that none of the information you share with us is going to be shared with any third party, they are strictly for purpose of analysis only. After your information has been reviewed and confirmed,All the required information should be sent as soon as possible as we respond on a first come first served basis.

N*B

We are still awaiting to receive two or more picture of you.The photos required is basically for documentations and preview. all details should be send to asap.Let us know your decision.

I am directed by the board of Spur Model Management to inform you that we are interested in your profile picture on FaceBook for the new Sony Bill board advert ,Send a copy of your picture via email to Agent Charles Wooden at ( [email protected] ) for more details about the new Sony bill board advert and the payment you will receive.

I received a similar letter from Metropolitan Modeling Agency in Paris, France. Same motive. Asking for money to pay for a registration fee, and Cost of Transfer fee. Totally $1107.00, I should have known better. Today, I send $200.00 and feel so small and angry for doing it. I can't believe that I fell for it!!

I have copies of the emails sent back and forth as well as the receipts. I even called the agency in Paris, called the Bank to verify the process, thought that I had done all my homework. Searched for the "quote agent" on-line and found him. Search Facebook and he was there. Even was given a phone number that was a burner phone and a bank account to transfer the money too. This was a prepaid Amex Card!!

This individual even used the Tim Baxter the CEO of Samsung and provided me with a "certificate" that states that I would be paid. The agency is a real agency in Paris!! I am expecting to hear back from them within the next few days - if the money is transferred to my account. One thing is that they are extremely persistent!!

I am directed by the board of Metropolitan Models Management to inform you that we are interested in your profile picture on FaceBook for the new Samsung billboard advert in Charles de Gaulle Airport ,international airport in France. Send a copy of your picture via email to Agent Susan Williams at ( [email protected] ) for more details about the new Samsung billboard advert and the payment you will receive.